RBC HERITAGE

April 12, 2023

Jon Rahm

Harbour Town Golf Links

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: I'd like to welcome Jon Rahm into the interview room, a four-time winner on the PGA TOUR this season, including a win last week at the Masters.

Jon, congratulations on winning last week. If you could take us through Sunday and then also what the last 72 hours have been like for you.

JON RAHM: I don't think I need to mention much about Sunday. There's not really much else I can say. It was really good to be a part of the activities afterwards at Augusta National. I didn't know how much that evening entailed, and it was really cool to be a part of it, to spend some time with the members and see a bit more of what Augusta National is like.

The last 72 hours, well, Monday I was extremely tired. I don't know how else to say it honestly. I was not very useful in any sense, and I tried to beat that as much as possible. We stayed one more day in Augusta and just tried to relax, had a family day, and yesterday we flew here.

Nothing special. Not the celebrating some people might think I'll be doing. That will take part next week.

THE MODERATOR: And now you're back for your second start at the RBC Heritage, first time since 2020, where you finished tied for 33rd. What do you remember about this golf course, and what are your expectations for this week?

JON RAHM: I remember it being a challenging golf course, right? You not only need to hit the fairway, you need to hit the right distance and line of the fairway to have the best look at the green.

It was a different time of year, so it played fairly soft. It was in summer, so the course couldn't be in the same shape. I've always been told how good this golf course is this time of year, and they're right. It's in absolute pristine shape. It's an unbelievable golf course. I can see why the winning scores are always as high as they are.

So looking forward to a battle out there and have some fun.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up to questions.

Q. Just curious, Sunday night, you said you didn't know how much that night entails as the champion. What was your favorite moment from the Masters champion dinners and whatever else?

JON RAHM: Obviously the little moment in Butler cabin is quite unique. Having the jacket on the whole afternoon was the special part, right? The ceremony is very, very special.

But I think my favorite part was, I think it was between the press conference and then the dinner you have with the members. They put me -- obviously took me to the top of Butler cabin, where my whole family was there, and we basically just had a drink and took a few pictures and relaxed. I signed a few flags and a couple things, but it was a very enjoyable 20 minutes to just be with my family over there in such a special cabin just by ourselves for a little bit was very nice.

Q. Did you finally get to sleep in after all those weather interruptions? What was Monday like for you?

JON RAHM: Oh, I slept terrible. Night after wins, I don't know if it's the adrenaline or whatever it is, I've never been able to sleep good at all. The next night, Monday night, I slept great and still woke up tired.

It's getting better every day. It was a very demanding week, a lot going on with the weather and a lot of fighting and a lot of work mentally obviously. So it's going to take a little bit to get to a good spot, but I'm feeling good.

Q. Jon, did you realize the dinner that night was going to be as big as it was? You were able to bring everybody you wanted, I heard.

JON RAHM: The what? Sorry.

Q. The dinner Sunday night. Did you realize it was going to be that big of an affair with all the members there and that you were going to bring as many with you?

JON RAHM: I had no idea there was a dinner afterwards. I had heard there was a cocktail. I guess I misheard. I didn't know there was a dinner afterwards, and it was incredible.

You get to go there. Chairman makes a little speech. I speak. They show me a collage of pictures that they made quickly as could be of the whole week. Then to have the honor to be able to take pictures with the members and be there and be considered one of them is quite special.

Q. And you had, what, like six or seven guests with you, your family?

JON RAHM: Well, I had my family with me, yeah.

Q. And did Adam go?

JON RAHM: Adam was there. My wife was there. Her parents were there. My dad was there.

Q. Big affair.

JON RAHM: What?

Q. It was a big deal then.

JON RAHM: Yeah, I'm glad my family was -- I would hope my family would be allowed to be there with me.

Q. Jon, you mentioned how tired you were earlier in the week. Did you ever think about, you know, maybe I need not to play at Harbour Town? Did you consider that at all leading into this?

JON RAHM: It did cross my mind. It did cross my mind, but I made a commitment earlier in the year, and I want to honor that commitment.

I also, talking to Kelley, I put myself in the shoes of not only the spectators, but the kids as well. If I was one of the kids, I would want to see the recent Masters champion play good or bad, just want to be there.

I still intend to hopefully do the jacket double and taking this one home. I'm not going to parade myself, right? But it did cross my mind, and obviously I think it would have crossed anybody's because I was so tired. But that's why I decided to come in yesterday afternoon and take it easier and just give my body a rest before I got into competition mode.

Q. Jon, I also wanted to ask, did winning the Masters feel any different than the U.S. Open a couple of years ago?

JON RAHM: It's a very different -- different win and different -- I guess different way of doing it, right? In the U.S. Open, I was never in the lead until the 71st hole -- well, until I was on the tee of the 72nd hole and then made that birdie to win and had to wait.

This time I was fighting the entire championship to win, and then once I took the lead on 6, I never gave it up. So to be able to walk that 18th hole after hitting the third shot and knowing that it's done is very special.

Now, everything that goes into the win, right? I mean, there's so many factors that made it so, so special. Being Seve's birthday, Easter. Last Sunday it was Seve's birthday, a Spanish man won, which is Sergio. Adam, our player-caddie number was 49, right? April 9th. Seve's 40-year anniversary from his second win. The list goes on and on and on. There's so many things that made it special in that sense.

Q. Jon, what kind of expectations do you have coming into this week after last week?

JON RAHM: Well, I can promise you that every time I tee it up in a tournament, it's going to be to win. It may feel better or worse, but I intend to try my hardest to win.

Q. Right. But I guess the question is do you feel like you have -- even though I know you want to win, you're not here not to win, do you feel like you have the same energy level that you had a week ago?

JON RAHM: I think it's going to be opposite to most tournaments. I feel like I'm going to be feeling better every day. So I think it could be a little challenging early on, but if I can get through the first two days, I think on the weekend I'll feel back to normal.

Q. Last thing, did you take the green jacket with you?

JON RAHM: Yes, sir.

Q. So you have it with you now?

JON RAHM: Yes, sir.

Q. Will you go around, like other players have for the year, and keep it with you?

JON RAHM: Like take it with me everywhere? I don't think anybody's ever done that.

Q. Jordan says he would hang it in the closet.

JON RAHM: No, it will stay home. I'm not carrying it everywhere. Unless I know I'm going to use it for some function after, of course, getting approval from Augusta National. Otherwise, no, I won't be carrying it with me everywhere.

I guess it makes sense because you never know when the opportunity might appear, but no.

Q. In terms of like congratulations text messages after you won, is there someone that you were surprised to hear from? And then is there someone that you were really thrilled to hear from?

JON RAHM: I wouldn't say anybody I was surprised. The one I was thrilled to hear from, Rafael Nadal left me a very nice voice message. I've seen him do unbelievable things, and I've texted him every time. He left me a very nice message.

Q. What has your welcome and reception been like from fans, Pro-Am partners here this week, and how has it been different than any other event you've played in?

JON RAHM: It's been a very warm welcome. I've heard from a few players that were major champions that, once you win the Masters, things change. I didn't realize to what extent because it's just more of the reaction from people, right?

The -- I don't know what the word is. The excitement they feel once they see you and how bad they want a picture or an autograph is significantly higher than it was before. I know it's a few days after the Masters, but it feels a little bit different. I've never had as many people watching me in the Pro-Am unless it's the Phoenix Open. That's today. If you're talking percentage-wise, it's been very, very special.

THE MODERATOR: We have a special guest from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This is Jimmy. He's a heart transplant recipient. He's got a question for you.

JON RAHM: You look great, man. Usually you guys ask the hard questions.

Q. So what do you think you're going to put on the Masters menu next year?

JON RAHM: I think this is the part of the week that I've given the most amount of thought already.

I don't know exactly. Chef Jose Andres is a really good friend of mine, so I'll be working with him. I also want to talk to Ollie, because we're from the same part of Spain, to see what he did in his dinner, see if I can go a different route.

I think I have one of the appetizers down, which would be jambon, Spanish ham, the dessert, which I won't be disclosing, and the wine. Everything in between is still up in the air. Those three things, I think I have down for now.

THE MODERATOR: Good question there, Jimmy. Anything else for Jon?

Jon, we appreciate your time. Congratulations once again. Best of luck this week.